Statement of Turkish Politicians and Intellectuals on
Armenian Allegations
April 24, 2015

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the so-called Armenian genocide, Armenia has intensified her accusations and public relations campaign targeting Turkey and its people. We note that recent declarations by the Pope and by certain political leaders abroad are being viewed as a sign of support by Armenia of her propaganda.

The reactions of representatives of the Turkish government and some politicians have so far failed to make the expected impact and have been widely interpreted as if Turkey is preparing to assume responsibility for the events that happened at that time. This interpretation is also wrongly reflected in the recent European Parliament resolution on the subject.

Against this background, we feel that it is our duty to inform Turkey and the world about the realities surrounding the events of 1915.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic highlights, in his book Speech delivered in 1927, the massacres of Turks by Armenians during this period as follows: “The assertions regarding the Armenian massacres in the south, armed by foreign troops and encouraged by the protection they enjoyed, attacked the Muslims of their district. Animated with the spirit of revenge, they pursued a relentless policy of murder and extermination everywhere...[Armenians] killed thousands of innocent and defenseless women and children. The Armenians were the instigators of the atrocities, which were unique in history. The Muslims had merely offered resistance had defended themselves with the object of saving their lives and their honour.”

These words along with much more historical evidence reflect the realities concerning the atrocities that took place at the time. We therefore strongly reject the targeting of Turkey by some foreign government officials who disregard the suffering of the Turks in eastern Anatolia.

On the other hand, those who try to condemn Turkey for committing genocide are also violating the international law. According to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide adopted by the United Nations on 9 December 1948, “Persons charged with genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article III shall be tried by a competent tribunal of the State in the territory of which the act was committed, or by such international penal tribunal as may have jurisdiction with respect to those Contracting Parties which shall have accepted its jurisdiction.”

Those parliaments, international organizations and public figures that, in line with the Armenian claims, condemn Turkey for having committed genocide, ignore these stipulations of the UN Convention and unjustly put themselves in the place of authorized legal institutions.

These groups tend to overlook the Azeri massacres at the hands of Armenian armed elements on 26 February 1992 in Hocali where 613 Azeris, 106 of them being women and 63 children were tortured and killed. They also overlook the forced exile of about one million Azeris from Nagorno Karabagh by Armenia during the same period. More than twenty years later, Armenia still occupies 20% of the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan.

By erecting a memorial in Yerablur Military Cemetery in Yerevan in honor of the Armenian Terrorist organization ASALA, Armenia also shows her complicity in the killing of more than 40 Turkish diplomats, including numerous ambassadors, and their family members. In the light of these facts, Armenia is a country that should be accountable for these crimes that took place in recent history rather than accusing others.

We believe that it is not appropriate to distort history for the political purposes of today. What should be done is to leave history to historians. Unfortunately Armenia, who has not accepted the proposal of the Turkish Parliament in this regard, has blocked a path leading to a solution.

We, who place their signatures below, strongly condemn the irresponsible policies of the Armenian Government and call upon the Turkish Government and politicians to pursue a more resolute position in this regard. We also call on foreign statesmen and parliaments to refrain from biased accusations that lack historical evidence and hurt the pride of the Turkish people.